So I picked up my new toy today. I stood in line for about 3 hours with probably 10,000 Japanese people. I got to Bic Camera at approximately 8am with some kind of strange delusion that since everyone in Japan already had a DS, the demand for the DS Lite wouldn't be that big. Boy was ever wrong. That was the biggest line up I've ever been in and the first console I've ever waited in line for. My number was 359 and apparently this particular store had 600 units so the line must have had at least 600 people in it. It was 3 colums wide and must have stretched for a good 100-150 metres.

One thing that really surprised me was the demographic variety of the crowd. As I stated before I've never lined up for a console before but I imagine most of the line is made up of adolescent and post-adolescent male nerds. This line up had a mix of everything. Younger (early 20's) to older people, including little old ladies. There were university students and business men and even, God bless'em, gorgeous Japanese girls lining up to buy a DS lite.

Well I've never had a DS before so I don't know what impressions I can give. The screen seems nice and bright but like I said, I don't know what it was like before. I'm glad it's so small and light because I'd think that it would eventually hurt to have to hold it with one hand all the time.In terms of how it feels, my hands are probably a little smallish so it felt perfectly natural for me. I haven't really had to use the shoulder buttons yet.If you are playing a GBA game, the cartridge does stick out, a LOT.

No it feels real solid. And it's that nice hard shiny plastic unlike the cheaper (at least in my opinion) plastic that the old DS had. Unfortunately this means that your DS will now be covered in fingerprints like the PSP (although with the white colour it isnt quite such a problem)

Given that my PSP is currently gathering dust and I'm lusting for about a dozen DS games right now (AND, my wife is intrigued that they finally made a game that she would be interested in - enter Super Princess Peach) I don't know how long I'll be able to hold off.

The DS lite should be out in the US in May. Lik-sang is now telling all their pre-order customers that they must accept a $199 price or cancel their pre-order. I have one I picked up at release back in Nov 2004 and it is still running perfectly for me. The draw of the brighter screens and sleeker design may be too much of a draw for me to avoid in May though.

It's all good, Devil. I have actually been playing my PSP again after months of doing nothing on it. I now have Mega Man Maverick Hunters, Exit, and DJ Portable Max (import) and I also got a 2G memory stick and so I watch movies while I work out at the gym. So now I can say I almost love the DS and PSP equally.

I think the trade-in at EB/Gamestop is about $50. I would imagine there would be a "trade in DS and two games, get DSL for $75" or similar deal when it launches here.

I wouldn't mind something like this, but I'm still alittle sad about the GBA game sticking out..it takes away from its sleekness..and since day one that I've had my DS i've always had a GBA game in it. it's just to pretty..and I love the blue, but they should make a lime green.